Most vascular plants face two broad challenges that affect their growth, reproduction and evolutionary success. One major challenge (Stress) includes shortages of resources such as light, water, nutrients or other physicochemical limitations. A second major challenge (Disturbance) includes factors such as grazing, diseases, storms, frost, erosion, and fire. When cross tabulated, we get the following table:

The outcomes of this cross tabulation can be seen as fundamental life history strategies. Based on the above information, which one of the following statements is correct?

Correct option is B

Correct Answer
(b) Conditions of high stress and low disturbance result in plants that are slow growing, attaining low to medium biomass, with low reproductive output and are long-lived.
Explanation
This question is based on Grime’s CSR (Competitor–Stress tolerator–Ruderal) life history strategies. Under high stress and low disturbance, plants evolve a stress-tolerant strategy. These plants grow slowly, invest in maintenance rather than reproduction, attain low to moderate biomass, and tend to be long-lived. Statement 2 correctly describes this strategy.
Information Booster
• CSR theory explains plant strategies based on stress and disturbance
• Stress-tolerators prioritize survival over rapid growth
• Low disturbance allows long life spans to evolve
• High stress limits growth and reproductive output
Additional Knowledge
Option (a) is incorrect because low stress and low disturbance favor competitors, which have large biomass and long life spans.
Option (c) is incorrect because low stress and high disturbance favor ruderal plants with rapid growth and high reproduction.
Option (d) is incorrect because high stress and high disturbance environments rarely support long-lived, highly reproductive plants.